Lithuania Debates Compensation for Damage from NATO and Military Forces

The Lithuanian parliament has begun debating legislation that would establish a state compensation mechanism for property damage inflicted by the country's armed forces or NATO allies during the lawful use of military force. The draft law, prepared by the Ministry of Defence, primarily targets scenarios where military drones entering Lithuanian airspace are shot down and their debris causes damage on the ground – a situation that has become increasingly common as drone incidents in the Baltic region have risen in recent months. These drones are believed to have drifted off course due to Russian electronic warfare and GPS jamming. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas noted that material losses in such cases are unavoidable and that a clear legal framework is necessary. Depending on the amount of damage and the state's financial capacity, compensation payments could be spread over up to ten years. The bill also expands the legal basis for the use of military force, extending it beyond unmanned aerial vehicles to include other remotely controlled or autonomous objects. During Thursday's debate, some lawmakers suggested widening the scope of the legislation to cover not only the military and NATO allies but also other statutory forces. The proposal was approved unanimously in its first reading and is set to return to the plenary session on June 23 after committee discussions.